The 6th Annual Green Fleet Conference & Expo (GFC) will take place Oct. 1-2, 2013. This year the conference will be shifting from Schaumburg, Ill., where it’s been held for the last few years, to sunny Phoenix, Ariz.

Produced by Bobit Business Media, publisher of Green Fleet magazine, the GFC has grown each year since the first event in 2008. The 2012 Schaumburg, Ill., event achieved record fleet attendance with a 40-percent increase over the previous year. An increase in exhibit and sponsor participation is also expected to increase in 2013. GFC is now the largest gathering of fleet professionals interested in advancing their knowledge about alternative fuels, according to organizers.

GFC’s conference program is specifically designed with fleet professionals from the commercial and government sectors in mind with dedicated sessions covering topics ranging from saving fuel, reducing emissions, and encouraging green driver behavior to incorporating alternative fuels and their accompanying infrastructure into existing vehicle fleets. New this year is a heavy-duty truck track developed by Green Fleet’s sister publication HDT magazine.

“What makes GFC stand out from other green conferences is that we make sure to touch upon all fuel types — compressed natural gas (CNG), clean diesel, biodiesel, ethanol, E-85, propane autogas, pure electric, and hybrid-electric. For the fleet professional who wants to gain an understanding of the breadth of alternative fuels, there simply is no better venue,” said Mike Antich, conference chairman and editor, and associate publisher of Green Fleet.

Technology is another main theme of the event. During each session in the 50,000-square-foot exhibit hall, attendees will gain a better understanding of how technology affects the alternative-fuel market and how to use leverage alt-fuel technology to reduce emissions and be more sustainable.

A major draw is the Ride & Drive Event. Billed as an event within an event, all attendees will have the opportunity to test drive the latest alternative-fuel vehicles from the most prominent worldwide manufacturers while enjoying music, prize giveaways, and a competitive obstacle course.